APS

Sandi Roe

Today a very nice lady showed up at our door, Adult Protective Services 🙄I knew they were called because my LO drove the car . He took the DMV test, they passed him, much to my dismay, and I sold his car but he wants to drive if it’s just down the street! I’m a hard No, he took her test and got 25 out of 30. Mild cognitive dementia, he is Alzheimer’s diagnosed stage 4. My point is he really should not drive, I’m taking him off my insurance, stupid DMV of California , this is a hard battle for my LO to give up, I’m grateful APS came here, unannounced, but what a strange feeling, so we continue on, one more thing gone from our lives, Alzheimer’s sucks!!!

SDianeL

So sorry. Can you hide the keys? Tell him the car is not working? Hard to believe he passed the test. Scary!

debriesea

Question about taking him off your insurance: If he is in an accident and not insured, aren’t you still financially liable being married to him? I would think the outcome would be worse without insurance?
I do agree with you about the DMV passing persons who should not be driving. Same thing happened with my husband after the Dr contacted the DMV to retest.

CMC62

I have the same concern about insurance, isn't it risky to take him off? My husband no longer drives, although he still has a license, but I have kept him on the insurance because I am scared one day he will manage to get behind the wheel anyway. He did not want to give it up, but like you I was a hard no and he has finally accepted that. But I don't trust this disease and next month he might think he still drives!

addy103

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/73694/aps

MY husband failed the cognitive driving test in NY York last year and they still have not taken away his license. I had to disable his car. He is now in MC.

Vitruvius

Check with your insurance company before taking your spouse of your insurance. Bizarrely my insurance company said my coverage cost would go UP if I took my DW off and just insured me. I really quizzed them about this and they repeatedly told me that would be the case. So even with my DW I very late Stage 7f, I still have her on the car insurance even though she hasn’t driven in many years. Go figure? BTW, I was very clear with them that she has dementia, but my agent still advised me to keep her on. Apparently insuring some one who never actually drives is not an issue.

Timmyd

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/249864#Comment_249864

My insurance agent told me that if I am married and my spouse is licensed to drive, then they must be on the policy. If I wanted to take DW off the policy, I would have to provide evidence she is no longer a licensed driver. My coverage cost would go up when I take her off, but not by much.

Sandi Roe

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/249826#Comment_249826

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/73694/aps

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/249826#Comment_249826

cdgbdr

My insurance agent advised me to keep DH on the insurance even though he isn't driving. Just in case he would get the keys and try it.

ronda b

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/249865#Comment_249865

That is also what my insurance agency said.

Damiross

I had AAA insurance. Even though I told them that my wife doesn't drive, she still needed to be on the policy. Of course, that made the policy more expensive.

As a result, after over 30 years with AAA, I am now insured by another company and at a lower cost.

SDianeL

Florida would not revoke my husband’s license without a hearing that they were going to do on the phone. I refused to put him through that. The insurance company wouldn’t remove him from the policy as long as he had a license.

JJ401

DH here has not driven in two years. The last few times he drove I found his reaction times and ability to turn corners off. As he was willing let me drive 90% of the time, I arranged with our regular mechanic that his car not pass inspection (it was due). I then told him that since we were together all the time we needed to economize and go to one joint car. He bought it.

I am careful about the keys. A friend had a husband who accepted not driving in a similar manner. Yet, one day, while she was in the shower, took the keys off the kitchen counter and drove off. Cue accident.

Last month his PCP asked if we had a handicapped tag. When I said no, he handed me the paper for DH to get one. I was wary about sending it in, as I was concerned they would pull his license. He's still on the insurance, and I'd like to keep it that way. But, the handicapped tag arrived and there has been no question about the license.

bwiderski

A handicapped tag doesn't mean can't drive. It means the person in the car - driver or passenger - has difficulty walking so needs to park in a reserved space closer to their destination. My DW has had one for years due to her knees being bad, long before the dementia got worse.